Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because its extent of occurrence is less than 20,000 km², its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its forest habitat.

Hildegarde's tomb bat is found on Pemba and Zanzibar islands (Tanzania), and along the coast of south-east Kenya and north-east Tanzania (from the Lower Tana River south to Dar es Salaam). It has so far been recorded from fewer than ten coastal localities, but is probably present in some places where it has not yet been discovered. It is present in suitable throughout the year, with no migration reported, but local movement of populations has been noted. The two central Kenya records collected by Harrison (1962), are questioned due to their location by Kock (1974), as these points are not along the East African coast. The questioned locations do, however, coincide with coastal vegetation along the Tana River, which could afford this species suitable habitat (Colket and Wilson 1998).

There are no overall population estimates. However, during a survey in Kenya and Tanzania in 1988, population estimates from three caves surveyed yielded more than 1,500 individuals (1,000+, 300+, 130+) (Susan M. Pont, pers. obs.). It seems to be relatively common in caves. It is probably declining due to loss of habitat, and disturbance of cave sites.

Hildegarde's tomb bat is a cave-dependent species associated with tropical dry forest, with a very restricted coastal range. It is a diurnal bat, often cohabiting with Coleura afra. It is insectivorous, feeding on Orthoptera and Lepidoptera.